It was to hurl a continuous shower of steel upon the enemy, and then when it ceased the French were to charge.

Raising his head a little he saw the ruined buildings of Chastel melting away entirely under the tremendous fire of the great French field guns.

House after house was springing into flames and wall after wall was crumbling down in fragments.

German guns were replying fast, but their position amid falling masonry was much worse than that of the French in the open.
John was lying in the snow near Bougainville, with the shells from both sides hissing and shrieking in a storm over their heads.

He was used to being under fire and he knew that none of these missiles was intended for them, but he could not restrain a quiver of apprehension now and then, lest some piece of shrapnel, falling short, should find him.